Apparatus for making adhesive seams



Aug. 30, 1966 P. J. WEBSTER 3,268,931

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ADHESIVE SEAMS Fild Nov. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 112 TH \Jh Inventor Philly; J VVebszer By his Attorney 6 P. J. WEBSTER3,268,931

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ADHESIVE SEAMS Filed Nov. 9, 1965 v 2 Sheets$heet 2United States Patent ice F 3,268,931 APPARATUS FUR MAKKNG ADHESKVE SEAMSPhilip J. Webster, Leicester, England, assignor to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Boston, Mass, in corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 9,1%5, Ser. No. 506353 Claims. (Cl. 12-55) This invention relates toapparatus for ad-hesively joining shoe parts and, more particularly, toapparatus for manufacturing an adhesively bonded backseam.

In the most commonly employed method of forming shoe uppers, the uppersare assembled by stitching together a plurality of appropriately shapedcomponents. The seam located at the back or heel portion of the shoe,commonly referred to as the backseam, is normally formed wth thepartially formed upper turned inside out by alining the ends of thequarter components in face to face relationship and applying a stitchedseam thereto. The stitching is completed with the upper turned insideout so that when the upper is reversed, the alined ends to which thestitching is applied will be directed inwardly and thereby concealed inthe finished shoe. If the quarter ends were initially folded inwardlyinto alined face to face relation with the upper in its normalorientation, the alined ends could not be introduced to a stitchingmachine without turning the partially formed upper inside out. It is tobe noted that the formation of all the stitched seams of the upper, withthe exception of the backseam, are accomplished with the upper in theflat.

When the quarter ends are positioned in alined face to face relation,the upper becomes three dimensional. When the stitched seam iscompleted, the upper is reversed whereby the stitched backseam is on theinside of the upper.

The surplus material at the backseam is removed after completion of thestitching operation, i.e. the portions of the quarters not exposed tothe stitching are removed or flattened. The stitched seam itself isrubber in order to p ovide as fiat or smooth a surface as possible. Thisoperation is necessary because of the position of the stitched seam onthe inside of the finished shoe. Failure to provide a smooth surfaceresults in extreme discomfort to a wearer.

The backseam of a shoe upper is subjected to high strain during thelasting operations and,'also, during normal use of the finished shoe.Accordingly, normal shoemaking practice requires the reinforcement ofthe backseam after the completion of the above described manufacturingprocedure, commonly by the application of tape adhesively secured alongthe stitching.

The plurality of difficult operations delineated above made theformation of backseams a time consuming and costly part of theshoemaking process. Further, failure to take extreme care in thecompletion of these operations invariably resulted in a shoe which wasextremely uncomfortable for the wearer.

Heretofore, apparatus for forming a backseam in a single, simpleoperation has not been available. The commercial use of adhesives toform seams between shoe parts has been limited to a relatively smallnumber of inexpensive, novelty shoes.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a machine forforming a shoe seam.

It is a further and more specific object of this invention to provide amachine for forming an adhesively bonded backseam.

To these ends and in accordance with a feature of the invention there isprovided a machine for forming an adhesively bonded shoe seam comprisinga bed, a table slidingly mounted on said bed, a platen movable towardand away from the bed, a forming member, means asso- 3,258,931 atentedAugust 30, 1966 ciated with said table for mounting shoe parts to bejoined and the forming member on the table with the forming memberinter-posed between said shoe parts to form a sandwich, the shoe partinterposed between the table and the forming member having a portionthereof overhanging an end of the table, an end. of the other shoe partand the forming member being located in overlying, essentially alinedrelation to said table end, means for moving said platen into engagementwith said overhanging portion to wipe it about the end of the formingmember into an upstanding position relative to the bed, and means formoving said table longitudinally of said bed under said platen to foldthe upstanding portion into overlapping engagement with the end portionof the other shoe part.

The above and other features of the invention including various andnovel details of construction and combinations of parts will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. The principles and features of this inventionmay be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of apparatus embodyingfeatures of the present invention with the operative members in the restposition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 showing the opera-fivemembers of the apparatus in an intermediate, folding position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing theoperative members in a final fold position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG.1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is particularly adapted foruse in the formation of a baclcseam between two leather quarters 1t) and12 each of which has a curved edge portion 14, 16, respectively. Theapparatus essentially comprises a bed 20, a table 22 slidingly mountedon the bed 20, and a platen 24 movable toward and away from the bed 20and cooperative with the table 22 to fold a leather quarter mounted onthe table 22 into abutting overlapping relation to a second leatherquarter mounted on the table, as hereinafter described in detail. Theplaten 24 also functions as a member of a high frequency :press to forma seal or bond in the overlapping portions of the quarters i0, 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bed 20 has a slot 30 in which thetable 22 is slidingly mounted. Sliding movement may be imparted to thetable 22 by any convenient, conventional means (not shown) associatedwith a drive rod 34 fixed to the table 22. The forward end of the table22 has a convex projection 36 corresponding in curvature to the curvededge portions 14, 16 of the quarters 1t), 12, respectively, seeparticularly FIG. 4. The upper face 40 of the table 22 has a pluralityof upstanding metallic locating pins 42 spacially mounted thereon forlocating the quarters in position to be folded, as hereinafterdescribed.

The platen 24 is mounted for transverse movement relative to the bed 20on a drive rod 50. The drive rod 50 may be linked to any convenient,conventional drive means (not shown). The end of the platen 24 locatedadjacent to the table 22 has a concave recess 52 corresponding incurvature to the convex projection 36 of the table 22. The platen 24 isemployed to apply a high frequency electric field to the overlappingquarters after the fold has been completed, as hereinafter described. Aforming member 56 is employed as a complementary electrode. The highfrequency impulse is induced by a radio frequency generator 58 ofconventional design, the electrical connection between the member 56 andthe generator 58 being established by the metallic bed 20, table 22 andpins 42.

The shoe quarter 10 is prepared for introduction to the apparatusembodying the invention by skiving the flesh side 60 (FIG. thereof atthe curved edge portion 14 to provide a skived face or scarf 62. Theshoe quarter 12 is slightly larger than the quarter to providesufficient material to form a fold. The grain side 64 of the quarter 10is skived at the curved edge portion 16 to provide a comparativelynarrow skived face or scarf 66. The flesh side 68 is skived to provide asomewhat wider skived face or scarf 70.

The use of the above described apparatus will now be described withparticular reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The normal rest positions of thetable 22 and platen 24 are illustrated in FIG. 1. The convex projection36 of the table 22 extends into the concave recess 52 of the platen 24.The gap between the projection 38 and recessed portion 52 isapproximately the thickness of the leather quarter 12 to permit thequarter to be folded over a forming member 70 see FIG. 4 is in thisregard. The upper surface of the platen 24 is located coplanar with orbelow the upper face 40 of the table 20.

The shoe quarter 12 is mounted on the upper face 40 of the table 22 withthe flesh side in contact with the face and with a substantial portionof the skived face 70 extending beyond the terminus of the convexprojection 36 in overlying relation to the platen 24. The exact locationof the quarter 12 is established by a plurality of holes in the lastingmargin thereof which are disposed in complementary relation to theupstanding pins 42 on the table 22. The quarter 12 is mounted on thetable 22 in the position described above by inserting the pins 42through the holes in the quarter. It should be noted that it is thecurved edge portion 16 which extends beyond the projection 36, saidprojection being of the same curvature as the portion 16.

The forming member 56 which has a plurality of apertures therein incomplementary positions to the metal he pins 42 is thereafter mounted onthe table 22 on top of the quarter 12, see particularly FIG. 5. Theforming member 56 has a tapered curved edge portion 82 corresponding incurvature to the portion 16 of the quarter 12 and to the projection 36.The member 56 is positioned on the table 22 with the curved edge portion82 in overlying alined relation to the convex projection 36 by insertingthe pins 42 into the apertures in the member 56. The apertures are sizedto contact the pins 42 when the forming member is in operative positionwhereby to effect the conduction of electricity. The skived face 66 ofthe quarter 12 is not engaged by the member 56 as it is narrower thanthe face 70.

The quarter 10 which also has a plurality of holes in its lasting marginis then mounted on the pins 42 on the table 22 with the grain sidethereof in contact with the forming member 56 thereby to form a sandwichcomprising the quarters 10, 12 and forming member 80. The curved edgeportion which corresponds in curvature to the portion 82 located inoverlying, alined relation to the portion 82. Adhesive is applied eitherto the face 62 or 66 or both prior to positioning of the quarters 10 and12. Neoprene cement is employed in the preferred embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the platen 24 is thereafter moved upwardly towipe the edge portion 16 of the quarter 12 about the forming member 56into an upright position perpendicular to the forming member 56. Thetable 22 is thereafter moved longitudinally on the bed in slidingengagement with the slot whereby to fold the portion 66 of the quarter12 into engagement with the portion 62 of the quarter 10 (FIG. 3). Theskived faces 62 and 66 are positioned in overlying, abutting relation.The skived face 70 provides a smooth transitional area at the seam.

The adhesive on the faces 62 and 66 is then activated by the applicationof the high frequency electric field thereacross by means of the platen24 and forming member 56. As noted above, the high frequency field maybe created by a radio frequency generator 58 of conventional design.

The resulting seam is of a strength equal to or greater than the normalstitched seam as the adhered faces are skived and positioned in such amanner as to provide a maximum surface area for bonding. The seam alsoeliminates the need for rubbing as the skived, abutting faces 62, 66 andthe face 70 provide a smooth transition between the two quarters.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for forming an adhesively bonded shoe seam comprising abed, a table movably mounted on said bed, a platen movable toward andaway from the bed, a forming member, means associated with said tablefor mounting shoe parts to be joined and the forming member on the tablewith the forming member interposed between said shoe parts, the shoepart interposed between the table and the forming member having aportion thereof overhanging an end of the table, an end of the othershoe part and the forming member being located in overlying, essentiallyalined relation to said table end, means for moving said platen intoengagement with said overhanging portion to wipe it about the end of theforming member into an upstanding position relative to the bed, andmeans for moving said table longitudinally of said bed under said platento fold the upstanding portion into overlapping engagement with the endportion of the other shoe part.

2. A machine for forming an adhesively bonded shoe seam comprising abed, a table slidingly mounted on said bed, a platen movable toward andaway from the bed, a forming member, means associated with said tablefor mounting shoe parts to be joined and the forming member on the tablewith the forming member interposed between said shoe parts to form asandwich, the shoe part interposed between the table and the formingmember having a portion thereof overhanging an end of the table, an endof the other shoe part and the forming member being located inoverlying, essentially alined relation to said table end, means formoving said platen into engagement with said overhanging portion to wipeit about the end of the forming member into an upstanding positionrelative to the bed, means for moving said table longitu dinally of saidbed under said platen to fold the upstanding portion into overlappingengagement with the end portion of the other shoe part, and means forestablishing a high frequency electric field between said platen andforming member to activate adhesive deposited on at least one of saidshoe parts in the overlapped portion to bond said shoe parts together.

3. A machine for forming an adhesively bonded backseam between two shoequarters comprising a bed, a table slidingly mounted on said bed havinga concave projection on one end thereof corresponding in curvature tothe ends of the shoe quarters to be joined, a platen movable toward andaway from the bed having a convex recess in an end thereof adjacent thetable, said recess being of a curvature complementary to that of thesaid projection on the table, a forming member having a curved endportion corresponding in curvature to the said projection, meansassociated with said table for mounting the shoe quarters to be joinedand the forming member on the table with the forming member interposedbetween the shoe quarters to form a sandwich, the shoe quarterinterposed between the table and the forming member having a skivedcurved end portion overhanging the projection of the table, a skivedcurved end of the other shoe quarter and the curved end portion of theforming member being located in overlying, essentially alined relationto said projection of the table, and means for moving the platen intoengagement with said overhanging portion to wipe it about the curved endof the forming member into an upstanding position relative to the bed,and means for moving said table longitudinally of said bed under saidplaten to fold the upstanding skived portion into overlapping engagementwith the skived curved end portion of the other shoe part whereby toform a smooth transitional seam.

4. A machine for forming an adhesively bonded backseam between two shoequarters comprising a bed, a table slidingly mounted on said bed havinga concave projection on one end thereof corresponding in curvature tothe ends of the shoe quarters to be joined, a platen movable toward andaway from the bed having a convex recess in an end thereof adjacent thetable, said recess being of a curvature complementary to that of thesaid projection on the table, a forming member having a curved endportion corresponding in curvature to the said projection, meansassociated with said table for mounting the shoe quarters to be joinedand the forming member on the table with the forming member interposedbetween the shoe quarters to form a sandwich, the shoe quarterinterposed between the table and the forming member having a skivedcurved end portion overhanging the projection of the table, a skivedcurved end of the other shoe quarter and the curved end portion of theforming member being located in overlying, essentially alined relationto said table projection, means for moving the platen into engagementwith said overhanging portion to wipe it about the curved end of theforming member into an upstanding position relative to the bed, andmeans for moving said table longitudinally of said bed under said platento fold the upstanding skived portion into overlapping engagement withthe skived curved end portion of the other shoe part whereby to form asmooth transitional seam, and means for establishing a high frequencyelectric field between said platen and forming member to activateadhesive deposited on at least one of said shoe quarters in theoverlapped skived portion to bond said shoe parts together.

5. A machine for forming an adhesively bonded backseam between two shoequarters comprising a bed, a table slidingly mounted on said bed havinga concave projection on one end thereof corresponding in curvature tothe ends of the shoe quarter to be joined, a platen movable toward andaway from the bed having a convex recess in an end thereof adjacent thetable, said recess being of a curvature complementary to that of saidprojection on the table, a forming member having a curved endcorresponding in curvature to the said projection, a plurality ofoutwardly extending members mounted on said table cooperative with aplurality of holes in said quarters and said forming member whereby saidshoe quarters and forming member may be mounted on said table with theforming member interposed between said quarters to form a sandwich, theshoe quarter interposed between said forming member and the table havinga skived curved end portion overhanging the projection of the table, askived curved end of the other shoe quarter and the forming member beinglocated in overlying, essentially alined relation to said projection,means for moving the platen into engagement with said overhangingportion to Wipe it about the curved end of the forming member into anupstanding position relative to the bed, and means for moving said tablelongitudinally of said bed under said platen to fold the upstandingskived portion into overlapping engagement with the skived curved endportion of the other shoe part whereby to form a smooth transitionalseam, and means for establishing a high frequency electric field betweensaid platen and forming member to activate adhesive deposited on atleast one of said shoe quarters in the overlapped skived portion to bondsaid shoe parts together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 606,301 6/1898Ross 12-57.1 1,226,503 5/1917 Gillette 12-57.1 2,286,467 6/1942 Coston12-55 2,311,085 2/1943 Rudolph 1255 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner.

1. A MACHINE FOR FORMING AN ADHESIVELY BONDED SHOE SEAM COMPRISING ABED, A TABLE MOVABLE MOUNTED ON SAID BED, A PLATEN MOVABLE TOWARD ANDAWAY FROM THE BED, A FORMING MEMBER, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TABLEFOR MOUNTING SHOE PARTS TO BE JOINED AND THE FORMING MEMBER ON THE TABLEWITH THE FORMING MEMBER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SHOE PARTS, THE SHOEPART INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE TABLE AND THE FORMING MEMBER HAVING APORTION THEREOF OVERHANGING AN END OF THE TABLE, AN END OF THE OTHERSHOE PART AND THE FORMING MEMBER BEING LOCATED IN OVERLYING, ESSENTIALLYALINED RELATION TO SAID TABLE END, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLATEN INTOENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OVERHAGING PORTION TO WIPE IT ABOUT THE END OF THEFORMING MEMBER INTO AN UPSTANDING POSITION RELATIVE TO THE BED, ANDMEANS FOR MOVING SAID TABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BED UNDER SAID PLATENTO FOLD THE UPSTANDING PORTION INTO OVERLAPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENDPORTION OF THE OTHER SHOE PART.